Lid support



1111.21,l 1941. H. JOHNSON LID SUPPORT Filed April 5, 1937 a, an

Patented Jan. 21, 1941 UNITED` STATES PATENT OFFICE LID SUPPORT Application April 5, 1937, Serial No. 135,060

7 Claims.

This invention relates to lid supports, or more generally stated, supports for` liftable hinged closures, and is herein specially concerned with a support suitable for use on the lids forrear trunks or luggage compartments on automobiles. The lid supports now commonly used comprise two pivotally connected arms or links attached to the body and lid and arranged to unfold out of the luggage compartment in the opening of the lid. An objection to that type of support has been that there was danger of getting something pinched between the arms in folding, or of the arms poking into something in the luggage compartment and causing damage thereto in the closing of the lid. It is therefore the principal object of my invention =to provide a support made up of two telescoping members slidable relative to one another in the opening and closing of the lid, whereby to avoid the dangers of damage or 20,' injury attributable to the scissors action of the other type of supports and the objections due to the elbow room required with that type.

Another object consists in the provision of simple but positively acting means for releasably locking the telescoping members in extended relation so that a predetermined endwise movement of the one member relative to the other produced by movement ofthe lid is sufficient to unlock the members for return movement to normal or 0 retracted telescoped relation.

y Otherobjects and advantages of the invention will soon appear in the following description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure `1 is a section .through a portion of the luggage compartment on the rear `of an automobile showing a support made in accordance with my invention applied to the lid or door thereof, the mode of operation of the support being indicated by the dotted une showing of the lid in raised position;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the support with the parts shown in the dotted line position of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side View on a larger scale of the middle portion of the support in the position of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4-4 of Fig.\3;

Figs. 5 to 9 are sections in the plane of the line a-a of Fig. 2 showing the telescoping support members in the different positions :throughout a cycle starting with the raising of the lid and ending with the lowering thereof, Fig. 5 of this 55.' series showing the members in the position of Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 of this series showing the members in the position of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is aside view of a one-piece cam block which maybe used in place of the two separate blocks shown in Figs. 5 to 9, and

Figs. 11 and 12 are two views of still another modication in the construction wherein the cams are formed by struck out portions of the wall of one of the telescoping members, Fig. 12 being a section on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 11.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring first .to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral I 3 designates the rear trunk or luggage compartmenton an automobile, and I4 its door or lid hinged at I5 to permit raising and lowering the same, as indicated in the full and dotted line positions. I 6 and I1 are two supporting arms or links pivotally attached at I8 and I 9, respectively, to the side wall of the trunk I3 and edge portion of the lid I 4, as shown. The arms I6 and I'I, in Vaccordance withV my invention, are in slidable telescoping relation and in the closed position of the lid are telescoped on one another` substantially their full length, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, taking up a minimum amount of room inside the trunk, much less room than was required with the other style of folding supports. The arm II slides on the arm I6 when the lid I4 is raised, and the arms are arranged to be locked releasably in the extended relationship by the novel means hereinafter described, whereby to support lthe lid in raised position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and as illustrated in Fig. 2. i The fact that the `arms slide on one another in a telescoping fashion eliminates any danger of something getting caught between the parts in the closing of the lid. In other words, this type of support, besides requiring less elbow room in the trunk in the closing of the lid, and hence avoiding likelihood of the support doing damage to something placed in the trunk, presents no danger of damage or injury like `the other style of supports where the arms folded in "scissors fashion and might therefore pinch something that happened to get caught between the arms in the closing of the lid.

The arm I6, as clearly appears in Fig. Il, is formed from sheet metal to channel-shaped cross-section, and the same is true of the arm I1, but the arm I 6 simply has its longitudinal flanges 20 bent at right angles thereto and slidable between the anges 2l of the arm I1, the armsA being in `opposed relation, as shown, so that the bottoms or webs of the channels are lll in spaced relation. The marginal edge portions of the flanges 2| are bent inwardly behind the arm I6 to hold the arms in telescoping relation.

A pawl 23 is pivota'lly mounted on a stud 24 land has itwo teeth 25 and 26 substantially at right angles t-o one another. A pin 21 carried on the tooth 26 extends through a slot 23 provided in the arm l1 struck on an arc with the stud 24 as a center. To the outer end of this pin is attached a coiled tension spring 29 which is stretched to a predetermined extent and anchored to the arm l1 in any suitable manner as on a pin 3i). This spring nomnally holds the pawl 23 in a deadcenter neutral position, as .shown in Figs. 5 and 8,

in which views it will be noticed that the pins 36 and 21 and stud 2t are in line. Under these conditions ift will also ibe noited that the pinv21 is in an intermediate position in the slot 2B. Now,

v the arm I6 has two cam blocks 3l and 32 suitably secured thereto in abutment with one of the flanges 26 and in a predetermined longitudinally spaced relation. The block 3l has one corner thereof notched to provide a ledge or shoulder 33 thereon tac-ing the block 32 arranged to be engaged by the tooth 25 of the pawl 23, as in Fig. 7, whereby to lock lthe arms releas'ably in eX- tended relationship supporting the lid I4. The other block 32 has one corner thereof for-med with an acute angled projection 34 entend-ing toward he block 3l and arranged to engage the tooth 26 of the pawl 2'3, as in Fig. 6, to limit outward movement of the arm l1 relative to the arm It when the lid is being rai-sedy from closed position preparatory to its being releasablly locked in open position. This sarme projection 3d will strike the hub 35 of thepawl 23, as in Fig. 8, to limit outward movement of the arm l1 relative to the `arm AI3 when the lid is raised slightly from the dotted line position of Fi-g. l to release the pawl 23 from the cam 3| preparatory tothe lid being lowered to close'd position.

In operation, when the lid is closed, the pawl 23, being on the lower end of the arm l1, is of course in remote relation to the cam blocks 3| and 32 which are on the upper end of the arm l5, as must be evident from an inspection of Fig. 1. In Fig. 5, the pawl is vshown in full lines in its normal dead-center or neutral position, just prior to its encountering the block 3l as the lid M is being raised. The tooth 25 strikes the block 3l as the pawl moves past it, and the pawl is turned sliglhltly in a. clockwise direction against the action of the spring 29, as indicated by the dotted line position of the pawl in Fig. 5. This slight clockwise movement throws the tooth 26 ilar enough to the rig-ht where it is bound to strike the projection 34 when the tooth 23 rides on" the surface 36 on the block 3l, as illustrated in Fig. 6. That positively limits further upward movement of 'the lid it, and the operator then lowers the lid, whereupon the spring 29 which tends to return the paw'l 23 to dead-center position again, turns the pawl in a counterclockwise direction the moment the tooth 26 rides oli the projection 33 in the lowering of 'the lid, and the tooth 25 is thereby thrown into contact with the surface 31 on the block 3l. This stops the turning of the pawl under spring action, and the tooth 25 rides along the surface 31 and comes to rest on the ledge. 33, thus preventing further downward movement of the lid I4 and locking vit releasably in raised position, substantially as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Ilhe lid is securely, though releasably, locked in raised position, because it requires 'a dennite predetermined amount of upl block 3l.

turn again tothe ledge 33 so that the lid is not 5 apt to be unlocked accidentally either under pressure of 'the wind against it or by the operator happening to brush against the lid in putting things into or removing things from the trunk I3. While a relatively .sh-ont length of surface 31 l0 is shown on the block 3|, it is obvious that a longer sur-tace could be provided i-f desired, and thus permit of proportionately increased free movement of the lid Without releasing the p-awl when lthe lid is locked in its raised position. When -15 the lid is to be lowered and closed again, the operator simply grasps the `lid and raises it so that the hub 35 of the pawl 23 vstrikes the projection 33 on the block 32, as shown in Fig. 8. In this movement, the tooth 25 leaves the surface 21 and the pawl 23 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction under spring action to dead-center position. The engagement lof the pawl with the projection 3d positively limits the upward movement of the lid so that the operator knows denitely that the lid is unlocked and may be closed. As the lid is lowered toward closed position, the tooth 25 of the pawl 23 in riding over the block 3l is turned in a oounterclockwise direction through approximately 90 against the ac- '30 tionof the spring 29, as shown in Fig. 9, and, of course, as soon as the toolth 25 rides oi the block 3l, the spring 29 immediately returns the pawl 23 to dead-center position, :as in Fig. 5. The piawl is .therefore in position for the commencement oi the next cycle of operation. The spring 29 keeps the only freely movable part of the support under spring tension at 4all times, so that there is nothing apt 'to rattle when the lid is closed and the car is in motion. There is furthermore very little L, strain imposed upon the spring 29 at any time, so that it is not at Iall apt to break :and throw the support out of commission. If the spring Idoes break, it is apparent at a glance because it is eX- posed on the outside of the support, and in that 1 case a new spring can be substituted very easily without having to take the support apart.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a modified or alternative construction in which a single block 38 takes the place of the bl-ocks 3l and 32, the ledge 33 5 and projection 34 provided on this block corresponding to the ledge 33 and projection 3'4 on the blocks 3l and 32, respectively. By having these portions on one block,'the accurate spacing thereof is more definitely insured than where two 5 blocks are fastened in piace separately, and, of course, that is Very important. The block 318 is further provided with surfaces 36 and 31 corresponding to the surfaces 36 and 31 on the( The operation secured with this con- 6 struction would obviously be the same as with the other construction.

If desired, I may eliminate the blocks 3| and 32 entirely andV simply strike out a lug Sla from the web of the channel member I6' in place of G the block 3l and strike out another lug in place of the block 32. The lug Sla, it will be noticed, is profiled to provide the surfaces 36 and. 31"

corresponding to the surfaces 36 and 31 on thel k a projection like the projection 34, and, of course, l.

the other lug would be pro-vided in the same 7 spaced relation to the lug 3io as the block 32 is spaced from the block 3|. l

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my' invention. The appended claims are drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

l; A device of the character described comprising an arm pivotally attached to a lid or other hinged member, another arm in telescoping relation with the rst arm and pivotally attached to a receptacle or other support on which the lid is hinged, a pawl pivotally mounted on one of said arms, abutmentson the other arm for engagement with the pawl to limit endwise movement of one arm relative to the other toward coextensive telescoping relation and also releasably lock said arms in coextensive telescoping relation whereby to support the lid in open position, said abutments being arranged to en.- gage the pawl and cause it to turn in both directions about its pivot to and from locking position in reciprocatory movement of the arms relative to one another, a projection on the pawl extending through a slot provided in the pawlcarrying arm struck on an arm with the pawl pivot as a center, and spring means cooperating with the projection on the outside of the pawlcarrying arm normally tending to move the pawl to an intermediate dead-center position.

2. A device of the character described cornprising an arm pivotally attached to a lid or other hinged member, ano-ther arm in telescoping relationwith the iirst Iarm and pivotally attached to a receptacle or other support on which the lid is hinged, a pawl pivotally mounted on one of said arms having two teeth in approximately right-angle relationship, spaced projections on the other arm arranged in different positions of the pawl-carrying arm relative thereto to be engaged by the pawl to limit endwise movement of one arm relative to the other toward coextensive telesooping relation and also releasably lock said arms in coextensive telescoping relation whereby to support the lid in open position, said projections being arranged to engage the teeth and cause the pawl to turn in both directions about its pivot to and from locking position in reciprocatory movement of the arms relative to one another, and means normally tending to return the pawl to an intermediate dead-center position.

3. A device of the character described comprising an arm pivotally attached to a lid o-r other hinged member, another arm in telescoping relation with the rst arm and pivotally attached to a receptacle or other support on which the lid is hinged, a pawl pivotally mounted on one of said arms having two teeth in approximately right-angle relationship, spaced projections on the other arm arranged in different positions of the pawl-carrying arm relative thereto to be engaged by the pawl to limit endwise movement of one arm relative to the other toward coextensive telescoping relation and also releasably lock said arms in coextensive telescoping relation whereby to support the lid in open position, said projections being arranged to engage said teeth and cause the pawl to turn in both directions about its pivot to and from locking position in reciprocatory movement of the arms relative to one another, a projection on one of said teeth extending through a slot provided in the pawl-carrying arm struck on an arc with the pawl pivot as a center, and spring means on the outside of said arm cooperating with the projection and tending normally to hold the pawl in an intermediate dead-center position.

4. A device of the character described comprising arms pivotally attached to a lid or other hinged member and to a receptacle or other support on which the lid is hinged, said arms being of channel-shaped cross-section, one of said arms having its flanges extending toward the web of the other arm and slidable between the flanges thereof, means for retaining said arms in telescoping relation, a pawl pivotally mounted on the web of one of said arms, projections on the web of the other arm for detachable engagement by the pawl upon endwise movement of one arm relative to the other to limit endwise movement of one arm relative to the other toward coextensive telescoping relation and also releasably lock said arms in coextensive telescoping relation whereby to support the lid in open position, said projections being arranged to engage the pawl and cause it to turn in both directions about its pivot to and from locking position in reciprocatory movement of the arms relative to one another, said pawl having a projection extending through a slo-t in the web of the pawl-carrying arm struck on an arc with the pawl pivot as a center, and spring means on the outside of said web cooperating with said projection and tending normally to hold the pawl in a dead-center position.

5. In a device of the class described, a iirst channel arm, a second channel arm slidable endwise relative thereto in telescoping relation so that the web portions of the arms are in spaced parallel relation, o-ne of said arms having a slidable lug member on the inner side of the web portion thereof and the other having a cooperating track on the inner side of the web portion thereof, said track having an extension limit stop portion arranged to be engaged by said lug when the arms are slid outwardly relative to each other, a contraction limit stop portion engaged by said lug when the arms are slid inwardly relative to each other, spring means on the outer side of the web portion of the rst named arm for actuating said lug member topredetermined positions relative to said stop portions in different positions of said arms, said arm having a slot in the web portion thereof, and means working in said slot interconnecting said spring means and said slidable lug member.

6. A device of the character described comprising an arm pivotally attached to a lid or other hinged member, another arm in telescoping relation with the first arm and pivotally attached to a receptacle or other support on which the lid is hinged, a pawl pivotally mounted on one of said arms having two teeth in approximately right-angle relationship, two spaced projections on the other arm, one of which is arranged to engage one tooth of the pawl to bring the other tooth of the pawl into position to engage the other projection, whereby to limit endwise movement of one arm relative to the other toward coextensive telescoping relation, the first named projection being thereafter arranged to engage the rst named tooth to limit return movement of the rst arm relative to the other arm so as to releasably lock the arms in coextensive telescoping relation and support the lid in open position, a projection on said pawl extend- 1ng` through a slot provided in the pawl carrying arm struck on an arc with the pawl pivot as a center, and spring means on the outside of said arm cooperating with the projection and tending normally to hold the pawl in a predetermined position with relation to said projections.

7. A device of the character described comprising an arm pivotally attached to a lid or other hinged member, another arm in telescoping relation with the rst arm and pivotally attached to a receptacle or other support on which the lid is hinged, a pawl pivotally mounted on one of said arms having two teeth in approximately right-angle relationship, two spaced projections on the other arm, one of which is arranged to engage one Atooth of the pawl to bring the other tooth of the pawl into position to engage the other projection, whereby to limit endwise movement of one arm relative to the other toward coextensive telescoping relation, the rst named projection being thereafter arranged to engage the iirst named tooth to limit return movement of the first arm relative to the other arm so as to releasably lock the arms in coextensive telescoping relation and support the lid in open position, and spring means normally tending to return the pawl to a predetermined position with relation to said projections, the pawl being so constructed and the projections being so spaced in relation to the teeth of the pawl that the first named tooth catches on the first named projection on alternate relative reciprocations of said arms, but said tooth rides freelyv over said projection on intermediate relative reciprocations'.

GEORGE H. JOHNSON.

CERTIFICATE OE CORRECTION. patent No. 2,229, 506. January 21, 19in.

GEORGE E. JOHNSON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificati on of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5,first Column, line 27 claim l, for the word "arm" second occurrence, read -arc; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may Conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

` 'signed and sealed this 25th day of February, A. D. 19M

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

